Surprising Secrets Many Jewelers Keep About The Four C’s Are Revealed {guest post}

Most jewelers want their customers to be as unknowledgeable as possible when it comes to choosing diamonds. The less you know, the more they can sell you. We are convinced that is just not the right way to operate. The more informed a person is in the art of choosing diamonds for rings, pendants, bracelets, or other article of jewelry, the happier that person will be. A happy customer is a customer that knows where he or she will be shopping the next time they want quality jewelry, a fair price, and an honest purchase.

With that said, we are sure you have heard about the four Cs of diamond rating. Here, there are five Cs involved in choosing the perfect diamond. Each is explained here for your edification.

Carat:

A carat is the standard weight used to determine the size of a diamond. The jewelry industry does not play around when it comes to measurements and weights. They use only the most accurate, and delicate of instruments to ascertain diamond weights. A carat is .007 of an ounce or a fifth of a gram. However, the best way to think about it is in points. If you are holding a 10-point diamond, you have a chip that is one tenth of a tenth of a carat. A fifty-point diamond is half a carat and 100 points equals one carat. Therefore, a point is one 100th of a carat.

What many appraisers and jewelers do not mention is that if the diamond is already set in stone, there is no way to measure the weight accurately. You will have an approximate weight based upon the measurements of the outside of the diamonds. This can be off by a little or a good bit. If you want a one carat diamond, it is best to purchase a loose stone and have it set into a ring of your own design. If a diamond is set into a ring with other gemstones, then the total weight is taken as an approximation using the same method and called an estimated total carat weight.

Carat is a Greek word derived from the method used by ancient Greeks to counter-balance the weighing scales of diamonds. They used carob seeds as the counter-weight and the method was called Keration. This eventually became known as a carat weight.

Color:

There have been numerous attempts at measuring the color of diamonds, all of which were unreliable until the GIA came up with one that actually worked. The GIA, or the Gemological Institute of America, finally introduced a system that started with the letter D so as not to be confused with the ABC of the older systems. The system uses d through Z, broken into five segments to show color accurately. The clearest diamonds are D through F, which are completely colorless. Then comes nearly colorless at G through J, faint yellow can be found at K through M, very light yellow at N through R, and finally, S through Z ratings are light yellows.

What they do not tell you is that there is another aspect of color that affects the diamond’s value. Florescence is the emission of radiation light stored within about 30% of diamonds. This light, which can be seen in various lights as in sunlight of florescent light, can increase or decrease the value of the diamond depending upon its color. If it is the color yellow, it decreases the value. If the color refracted in other forms of light is blue, it increases the value of your diamond. To know more visit londongold.com

Clarity:

Judging a stone’s clarity involves looking at the stone magnified to the power of 10x. The report of clarity depends upon five factors. These include the number of inclusions, which are flaws, cracks , or pockets of other elements with the diamond. It is also based upon the size of the inclusions present, the location within the diamond, how visible the inclusions are to the naked eye, and what the inclusion could do to the diamond over time.

Flawless

Internally flawless

Very, very, slightly included

Very slightly included

Slightly include (SI1 and SI2)

Included (I1, I2, and I3)

Inclusions can actually work for you. The more inclusions a diamond has, the less valuable it is, however, if the inclusions are visible to the naked eye and the diamond is otherwise very clear, you can save money or purchase a larger diamond for the same price and no one will be able to tell without magnification that the diamond is anything other than perfect.

Cut:

The way your diamond is cut is perhaps the most important aspect when you talk about affecting the value of the stone. A poorly cut diamonds is worth very little. The cut is what creates the winking, sparkly effect as light reflects off the many facetted cuts made in the diamonds shape. For this reason, the depth and placement of the cut is vital to the brilliance of the stone.

The standard cut has 58 small flat surfaces. The quality of the cut and talent of the diamond cutter can make a dull diamond brilliant and a clear diamond appear dull. Thanks to the new rating system from the GIA in 2005, there is more quality of cuts coming out of the industry. The lower the rating, the better the cut, and brilliance. The cut is measured in three categories.

* Scintillation measures the way the cut glints when turned to and fro

* Fire is the measurement of light throughout the spectrum that is visible in the cut

* Brightness refers to the how much light is actually refracted in the cut

Common Sense is the fifth and final C in the new five Cs. If you know what to look for, including looking at your loose diamond in more than one kind of light and determining whether or not your diamond is losing more light than it refracts, you should be able to find the perfect diamond. Now that you know the secrets of the four Cs, you are armed with the knowledge you need to take care of yourself, and get your money’s worth the next time you purchase a diamond for yourself or someone you love.

Bio:Drake White – GM at London Gold Jewelers in Scottsdale, AZ always recommends cash for gold service when looking to sell your gold.